Good afternoon, Ian Bazalgette Community.

Please note that we have our New Fall Break coiming at the end of this week (Nov. 9-14). Classes resume on Wednesday, November 15, 2023.

Additonally, we will be observing Remembrances on Nov. 8.

Remembrance Events

Nov. 8 - Indigenous Veteran's Day

Nov. 11 - Remembrance Day

We will be having two ceremonies on Nov. 8th to allow comofortable seating for our Grade 6-7 students and then our Grade 8-9 students. 

Some thoughts about... (retrieved from Government of Canada)

Indigenous Veterans

Did you know... Code Talkers? While Indigenous soldiers again served as snipers and scouts, as they had during the First World War, they also took on interesting new roles during this conflict. One unique example was being a "code talker." Men like Charles “Checker” Tomkins of Alberta translated sensitive radio messages into Cree so they could not be understood if they were intercepted by the enemy. Another Cree-speaking "code talker" would then translate the received messages back into English so they could be understood by the intended recipients.

While exact statistics are difficult to determine, the rate of Indigenous participation in Canada's military efforts over the years has been impressive. These determined volunteers were often forced to overcome many challenges to serve in uniform, from learning a new language and adapting to cultural differences, to having to travel great distances from their remote communities just to enlist. The challenges they faced often extended to their post-service life.

Why We Remember? 

We must remember. If we do not, the sacrifice of those one hundred thousand Canadian lives will be meaningless. They died for us, for their homes and families and friends, for a collection of traditions they cherished and a future they believed in; they died for Canada. The meaning of their sacrifice rests with our collective national consciousness; our future is their monument. On Remembrance Day, we acknowledge the courage and sacrifice of those who served their country and acknowledge our responsibility to work for the peace they fought hard to achieve. 

Please see the attached Ian Bazalgette Newsletter for the week of Nov. 6-10.

Steven Pike
Principal